The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons has awarded its innovation of the year award to the FreeHand robotic camera device from Prosurgics, a Loudwater, UK firm.
From The Engineer Online:
Currently, keyhole surgery is performed using a fibreoptic laparoscope, a device consisting of a flexible tube, that a theatre nurse or junior doctor controls for the surgeon.
But the FreeHand camera unit (which can be clamped to the side of any operating table) removes this third party requirement.
It moves by receiving information from a hands-free controller worn on a headband or attached to a surgeon’s cap, and an activation pedal. The surgeon selects the direction of the laparoscope using head movements.
The hands-free controller contains accelerometers to detect the head motion of the surgeon and relays the direction to the camera via an infrared signal.
More from The Engineer…
Press release: Breakthrough surgical robot ‘FreeHand’ secures “Innovation of the Year” recognition
Product page: FreeHand